Sectional hollow boat-gunwale.



` No. 727,894. PATBNTBD MAY l2, 1903.

J. L. BURTON. l

SECTIONALHULLOW BOAT GUN'WALB. `APPLIoATIoN FILED DEQ. so, 1902.

Fiyi E- N0 MODEL.

ATTORNEY'.

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Patented Mayr12, 1903.

" 1l-TENT Fries,

SECTIONAL HOLLOW BOAT-GUNWALE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 727,894, dated. May 12, 1903.

Application filed December 30, 1902. Serial No. 137,103. (No model.)

To all whom it pumpen/067%:

Be it known that L JosrAH L. BURTON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Martinsville, in the county of Morgan and State of Indiana, have invented new'and useful Improvements in Sectional Hollow Boat-Gun- Wales and Locks Therefor; and' I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention,'reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to improvements in the construction of metallic portablelboats, which improvements Were originally included in patent application, Serial No. 126,977, filed by me October 13, 1902, and subsequently divided therefrom.

My present invention relates particularly to the 'gnnwales and also tothe locking .del vices for connecting the gunwales of sectional boats together.

The object of the invention is to provide improved metallic gunwales'adapted to support rowlocks without requiring excessive weight of material and which may also'serve as air-chambers; and a further object is to provide improved locking devices adapted particularly to the peculiar construction of the gunwale, all for the general purpose of rendering metallic boats of this character strong, light, and durable..

The invention consists in a novel hollow metallic gunwale having convex outersurfaces against which rowloek-clamps may bear without liability of crushing in the metal of the gunwale; and the invention consists in the novel parts and in the novel combination and arrangement of parts, as hereinafter particularlyV described, and pointed out in the claims.

Referring to the drawings, Figure l represents a side elevation view of a sectional boat, illustrating the character of boat to which my invention is particularly adapted and applied; Fig. 2, va top plan view of the boat, showing the several connected sections thereof Fig. 3, a transverse sectional view of the boat, showing the adaptability of the gunwale to sustain rowlock-bases, a suitable form being attached thereto; Fig. 4, an end View of the socket of Ythe .section-locking devicesg Fig. 5, an end View ofthe stud of the sectionlocking devices; Fig. 6, an end View of a portion of the gunwale in its preferred form; Fig.

7, a fragmentary transverse sectional view of a side of the boat, showing the gunwale and the locking devices for the sections connected together; Fig. 8, a fragmentary top plan view of the gunwale, partly in horizontal section and showing a joint of the boat-sections Fig. 9,"aV fragmentaryhorizontal sectional View taken centrally of the gunwale, showing the locking devices and the arrangement thereof; and Fig. 10, a fragmentary side elevation of the gunwale and boat side, partly b roken away and showing the locking devices.

Similar reference characters in the drawings indicate corresponding parts. 'In practically carrying out my invention 1 have provided a gunwale that may be composed of thin sheet metal and which may be secured strongly to the boat and which willl stiienrthe upper portion of the boat sides to the greatest degree and also be capable of resisting the rowing strains,while permitting ro'wlocks to be movab'ly attached to the gunwale. Y 4 4 The advantages arising from my invention and the construction thereof will be best un- -derstood'by reference to a well-known type yof sectional metallic sportsmansY boat, in VWhiche, b, c, and d designate the several detachablej sections thereofyl and 2, thesides VVof the boat; 3, 4, and 5,the joints of the sections; e, the keys ofthe section-locking devices, and 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, and 11 the ends of the sections. f .I The gunwale A is hollow and substantially circularin cross-sectionv and is composed of such metales galvanized sheet-steel, formed the boat side to which the lian ges are soldered,

IOO

the spaces fm in the gunwale usually being rendered air-tight, so as to assist in floating the boat when accidentally overturned. At the joints, as at 4, the locking devices for the upper parts of the boat-sections are arranged, the principal parts being covered by the hollow gunwale, the sockets B and the studs C being designed to Iit into the gunwale at one side of the boat side, to which they are secured by means of supportingshanksj and rivets k. The socket cooperates with the boat side, and it has a vertical keyway h, the stud fitting into the socket and having a keyway t'. The gunwale has keyways Z opposite to the keyways h, and the split keys c extend through the keyways at the top and bottom of the gunwale and also through the keyways, effecting a strong and neat lock. The bottoms of the boat-sections may have anysuitable locking devices.

In rendering the frunwale air-tight the sockets B and studs C are soldered to the boat sides and also to the gunwales, and caps F F are soldered to the joint ends of the gunwales and also to the boat sides at the sides thereof opposite to the sockets and studs.

It will be seen that the angesf and g form reinforcing-belts for the thin metallic sides proper of the boat in addition to the great lateral strength aftorded by the hollow gunwale and that the latter provides a smooth and symmetrical finish for the top of the boat particularly well adapted to support movable rowlocks, such as have bases D and clamping-plates E, together adapted to embrace the gunwale and he frictionally held thereby against sliding movements.

In practical use the several sections of the` boat may be disconnected by withdrawing the keys e from the keyways land the keyways in the sockets and studs and also disconnecting such devices as may be provided for connecting the bottom of the boat. The various movements required in connecting the sections ltogether are well known.

It should be understood that the hollow gunwale may be attached to boats that are not sectional to good advantage.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is l. A sectional boat provided with a sectional hollow gunwale attached to the sections of the boat sides, sockets and studs secured to the boat sides in contact with the bollo7 gunwale and having keyways therein, and keys seated in the keyways.

2. A sectional boat provided with a hollow gunwale having flanges extending against the boat sides and also having keyways therein, sockets and studs secured to the boat sides within the gunwale and having keyways opposite to the keyways in the gunwale, and keys extending through the keyways.

3. A sectional boat provided with a hollow gunwale, sockets and studs partially closing the ends of the gunwale-sections, and caps closing portions of the ends of the gunwalesections at the sides of the boat side opposite to the sockets and studs.

4. The combination with the boat side having the sockets and the studs secured thereto, of the gunwale extending over said sockets and studs and secured to the boat side, said gunwale also extending over the top of said side and having keyways therein, and the keys extending through said keyways and engaging said sockets and studs, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOSIAH L. BURTON.

Witnesses:

H. A. WILLIAMS, SHELBY F. BEARD. 

